We Belong

Church means we belong.

I think I will always remember last Sunday Dec 19. During a blizzard warning with fierce winds whipping around us, 82 people gathered in a sanctuary to worship. Sharon and Agnes were invited forward for Christ to bless them in the sacrament of baptism. The nursery children gathered with us to witness to Christ's act in the church: "You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ's own forever." We belong.

Sharon and Agnes didn't go directly back to the nursery. There was something else. Communion. As one body, we came forward and received the bread for the journey: "The body of Christ, for you. The blood of Christ, for you."

The children saw people coming forward so they came forward too. A little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6). My daughter Sophia and her friend Adelle Leavens held hands and walked toward me. Sophia took my hand and stood there with Adelle. They kept watch as, one after another, people came forward to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34.8). Then it was their turn, right along with Agnes and Sharon. For you. For you. Did they get it? Did I get it? Did you? Maybe it's not about "getting" it, that's the rest of your life. But in that moment, sheltered from the wind and cold, it is to receive it. Like a child: "Unless you CHANGE and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom" Matthew 18:3.

It can't be explained, but it can experienced. But if I had to use words I would start with "we belong."

Leadership Summit

On Saturday November 6, six of us attended a Leadership Summit hosted by the Presbytery of East Iowa. (Just another example of how our presbytery is nurturing leadership and vitality in our churches).

Barb, Al, Kate, Sue, Alex and I heard a presentation by Glenn McDonald, whose 2004 book The Disciple Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality is still making a splash. Over 170 leaders from churches all around attended. We think the reason that so many attended is because there is a longing in our local churches for a better way of being church. We think that God is working in a particular way with many churches to bring us back to the essential nature of what we are to be about: “to be disciples who make disciples.”

For too long, McDonald states, churches have focused on the wrong things. We have focused on the ABC’s: attendance, building and cash (or bodies, bricks and bucks). But our real mission, given to us by Jesus in the Bible, is to grow up in Christ and to be involved in transformative relationships with others. If you have the book, read it. If you need a copy, they are available from the church for $10.

I am asking you to pray for our church as we enter a new decade of ministry in Muscatine. Please pray that we will discern the movements of the Spirit and have the courage and trust to follow Jesus as our Teacher. I know I'm gettin' schooled...

A challenge to live more simply

Simple living. Grateful giving.

Rather than focusing on the church’s need to receive your money, pray about your need to give joyfully from all that God has given you.

Financial stewardship is like any other act of devotion. We show our love for God by our commitment to pray, read the Bible, worship, and care for others. How you handle your finances is no different. If something matters to you, you devote yourself to it.

The most joyful and content people I know are the ones who either have less than I do, or who give away at least 10% of their income or wealth.

Laura and I are committed to giving away 10% of our annual income and are making progress toward that goal each year. And most of that “giving away” goes to support this church’s general budget. It is our way of showing our devotion for and obedience to God. I challenge you to have that goal as well. Try it and see what happens!

Financial stewardship campaigns are not opportunities for you to feel guilted into giving more money to the church. It is an opportunity to evaluate financial priorities, an opportunity to give first fruits rather than whatever is leftover. For me, it is a reminder that the world does not revolve around my desire for a new car or the latest iPhone. For me, it is a reminder that living with debt is a major barrier to simple living and grateful giving.

As you make your financial commitments to the church, “sing to the Lord of harvest a joyous song of love.”

United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase writes of the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. He says each one of these practices is essential for a church to be vital and fruitful, and failure to perform them in an exemplary way leads to congregational deterioration and decline.

We studied this book as a session in the spring. In September I began to encourage you in my sermons to focus on two of them: Radical Hospitality and Intentional Faith Development. I set a vision before you, asking you to imagine, pray for and work towards inviting, welcoming and embracing the next 100 people into the life of the church.

It is my role to keep this vision before you. And to encourage you as I have been encouraged. Since September, we have a new mom’s group that is beginning to meet (see Elizabeth Negus) and a new Bible study is beginning this week on Fridays during lunch (see Kate Anderson or Mike Eversmeyer). I am starting a new weekly prayer group on Wednesday mornings. A group went to a wine tasting at a local winery. Our church joined with Emmaus Café guests and ate together as Jesus taught us to do, as we celebrated 10 years of this “risk-taking” ministry. Yesterday 18 men gathered to listen to Father Richard Rohr talk (via webcast) about the role of men and male spirituality. These are all signs of God doing a new thing in our midst.

Hospitality: let’s be aware of those who come to this building and invite them to our small groups (faith development). But more importantly, let’s be the church in the world, knowing that many people will not come to be with us on Sunday mornings, but they will come to Ardon Creek Winery or to a bible study at your house.

As I near the end of three years as your pastor, I am encourage and inspired. We continue to be savvy, letting go of some things, gathering up new. But in all things we must be faithful to the gospel good news of Jesus, news that teaches us to be people of resurrection living in a world that seems to love fighting, death and war.

On the green grass

Last night many of us gathered at church, picked up sack dinners and headed down Iowa Avenue to Riverside Park near the "red brick building" to watch Ballet West II perform: outside on the green grass as the sun set behind the west hill bluff and a breeze blew from behind us. The ballet's director Mark Goldweber introduced the pieces and then said: "I will be watching the dancers perform, but every chance I get I will also be looking out that way" (waving out to the Mississippi). "This is such a beautiful setting."

Indeed. The performance of art enlivened our minds and the beauty of God's creation held us all.

This is how God works in the world. When we gaze upon dancers on a stage and hear the music, we see and hear the Spirit dancing. We experience these times as thin places, and a thin place is any experience or moment in which we connect with God. It usually lasts for just a brief few seconds, because then we are distracted by a recurring concern in our life. Or we may have to run after our children (like Sophia) who don't need art because they are art.

Thin places are all around us because the kingdom of God is all around us. Jesus still invites us to sit down in groups on green grass and be fed (Mark 6:39-42). When we allow ourselves to be connected to God, our life becomes a work of art. When we allow the Spirit to shine in us and through us, people no longer see us. They see God dancing.

Willing, David

Scattering Ourselves for the sake of the world

The last time we held our monthly worship service at Carrington Place, Sam, Sarah and Sophia were with me. As I loaded them all in the van after the service, I place my Book of Common Worship on the top of the van. (The Book of Common Worship is the Presbyterian worship resource that contains worship services, prayers, psalms, etc.) I placed it up there and thought to myself: better not forget that. Minutes later, the kids heard something and said "What was that?" I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw paper flying all over Mulberry Avenue. My book suffered a few creased pages. But the book also had a few inserts with prayers or scriptures--all of these began to fly around with the wind.

I remember thinking that I needed to get all these bits of paper up: What if someone picked up the funeral service template? What if someone thought that these bits of prayers had been irreverently discarded? Is it right for prayers to litter the landscape? As my kids looked on from the van, I chased Psalm 23 (King James Version) and kept after the abbreviated Thanksgiving Prayer Over the Water that I sometimes use at baptisms. That prayer I had prayed at First Presbyterian Fort Worth in June 2006 didn't get away.

But why not? Why not scatter our prayers up and down Mulberry? Why not let our prayers blow over the road and hang on the fences and hedges? Many people have no reservation about blasting awful music awfully loud or spewing profanities as they drive around town. Many people drive around with little awareness of their surroundings. Why not be more intentional and more present?

And that is when it occurred to me that we already do this with our deacon prayer card ministry. Deacons spend hours composing prayers on postcards and mailing them all over the place, littering the community and the nation with words of grace and peace and healing and hope. I can't think of a better way to be "green" than to spread our prayers all over the road and lawns of the town. Shred your prayers into fine bits of love, roll down the window and let them fly all over. Your neighbors need to hear the good news--that the Kingdom is among us.

Scattered, David

Living in High Definition: Can we be HD Disciples?

A university English professor recently told me about one of her "teaching revelations". The subject was Shakespeare. Unfortunately, the students struggled with the prose and failed to grasp the significance of the writings. She decided to bring in actors to act out the stories, and guess what happened? The students saw the light. They got it. And the teacher thought to herself, "Of course! Shakespeare's work was written to be experienced, not read."
I thought of this encounter during the worship experience at Carrington Place today. Christ loves us. And how does he want us to live? Beyond his words, in "high def".
What is HD, or high definition?
With regard to your television set, HD is the, "Whoa!" of viewing experiences: sharp, vibrant, clear, crisp, and exciting. It's as close as one can get to actually being on the beach at sunset.
How can we live in HD and shine for Christ? We need the connection-to be "tuned in" to the signal-and to bring the words to life through our life stories.
Hear the words. Know the words. Experience the words.
Sounds exciting!
The HD experience today at Carrington Place was wonderful. And I would like to think that Christ thought, "Well done! Encore! Encore!"
Thanks be to God, the loving producer and director of wonderful works. He has given the call: "Action!"

As I write this, I am working "off campus" at Camp Wyoming outside Wyoming, Iowa. Here we are in beautiful Jones County, a county that Gov. Culver has asked to be declared a disaster area due to flooding. Already the news is talking about "the flood of 2010" while the camp counselors are sharing stories of the flood of 2008. I think it is one of the challenging things for us to comprehend--how nature can be so wonderful and so destructive at the same time.

Some of us react to flooding and other natural disasters by declaring "these things shouldn't happen," and we doubt the benevolence (or even the existence) of God. Other people react by not wondering about the big questions, but just start helping out as best they can. Other people say that humans are not capable of affecting any change and continue living their own lives as best they can. What do you think? How do you respond?

As thoughtful Christians, we find ourselves in the middle of transitions and crises, and we may not always be able to make sense of it all. Those of you who are currently suffering (or have suffered) loss, pain, defeat--you are the ones who have the perspective of faith. And the rest of us can love and serve in many different ways. I think there will always be things we don't understand. (That is a sign of wisdom--to know that we don't know and to be okay with that.) Calvin believed that our faith should teach us humility, gratitude and freedom from fear. In the mix of these three, I find my place in life. When the floods of life come, what works for you?

Peace like a river, David

219th General Assembly (2010) - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Tonight the General Assembly elected a new moderator, Cynthia Bolbach, an elder from Washington D.C. Her two year term begins immediately. She will spend the bulk of her term traveling all over speaking to the church and also representing us to the world. Hopefully, she will be in East Iowa Presbytery soon, as her predecessor Bruce Reyes-Chow was.

This link should take you to the details of the election and a brief description of

219th General Assembly (2010) - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Words That Mean Everything

Three verses:
"When the Lord saw the widow, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." (Luke 7:13)
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:50)
"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." (Luke 8:39)

These three simple verses are from the scripture readings we have used in worship June 6, 13 and 20. Spoken to a widow, an unnamed woman "whose sins were many" and a demon-possessed man who lived in the tombs--these words meant the world to them. Words gave them comfort in the midst of pain, pardon from guilt and shame, and direction and purpose. Words!

They mean a lot to me too. I have the great joy and responsibility of wrestling with these words and the Word on a weekly basis in preparation for worship. Weekly preaching is the hardest thing that I do; it takes a great deal of mental energy as well as lots of lonely time staring at a blinking cursor on the computer screen. But weekly preaching is also the best thing that I can do in response to the grip that God has on my life. My sermons may be good or bad, yet the Living Word always brings good news. Good news like "do not weep" and "go in peace." Good news that inspires us to go tell our friends what God has done for us.

My vision--actually God's vision--for this church is to be a community that is excited about the possibilities of encountering the Living Word in worship on Sunday mornings. Fruitful congregations are made up of people like you and me who are committed to hearing the "wonderful words of life" as often as we can. Our lives are filled with words--without spending time with God and God's people, where will you get the words of life? peace? hope? love?

God still speaks to people through the gift of Holy Scripture. God still speaks words that mean the world, that mean everything. I invite you to be a part of worship on a regular and customary basis this summer. Not because you want to, but because you can't live without it. Jesus says: "I have something to say to you." (Luke 7:40). We respond: "Teacher, speak!"

Gulf Oil Spill

Here is a link to a letter/prayer from the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding the ongoing tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.pcusa.org/oga/newsstories/oil_spill_2010.htm

Nashville Surprise

This past week I had the great joy of gathering in Nashville for a week of continuing education at the Festival of Homiletics. (Homiletics is the art of preparing and preaching a sermon or "homily"). It is so good to be nourished, inspired and challenged through worship, lectures and conversations with many of the top people in this area. It is good to be reminded again of the joy and awesome responsibility that is preaching--the task of being a vessel for the Word of God in weekly conversation with God's people.

Of course this year's festival was special in part because we gathered in Nashville three weeks after historic floods devasted the city and surrounding areas. Signs of cleanup were all around us, and people had flood on the brain and on the tongue. The buses were running a reduced schedule because many MTA buses were damaged. The good news was that the bus was also free all week--the machine that opened the fare boxes was also damaged! We contributed to Nashville relief efforts through special offerings. Some of 1250 attendees spent Thursday afternoon volunteering in various parts of the city. My group ended up in the Bellevue area near Bellevue Presbyterian Church. We moved wet, moldy sheetrock, wood and household items out to the street for pickup. Nasty, smelly work. The shoes I wore that day remained in Nashville!

Our conference opened up with the news that one of the featured preachers, Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, had received threats so he thought it best to stay home with his family. A reminder that the gospel is a scandal in a world that often prefers lies and violence. A highlight for me: John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland (and the Wild Goose Worship Group whose songs we sing in worship) led a discussion (via Skype) on imagination and creativity as essential to ministry and spirituality. In the midst of floods and threats and Skype and songs and stinky sheetrock, the Word always sustains and inspires us.

Joyful in the Lord, David

What is God's Blood Type?

One of our cats is unfortunately not feeling well. During a visit to the vet, the doc drew blood to assess his health (results pending). The blood talk prompted Justin to ask, "What kind of blood do you have, Mom?"
"B+" I replied.
"Being positive is good, Mom," he responded.
As I started to explain a bit about blood types, he interrupted to say that he and his Dad both have brown eyes so they have the same type, and Jonathon and I have green eyes, so we're the same.
(I see that I'll have to circle back a bit...)
But before I could, Jonathon picked up on my comment about rare blood types and asked, "What kind of blood does God have?"
Hmm.....
He followed that up with, "Well, he's special and unique, so he has the rare kind, right?"
Now we know that rare with regard to blood types doesn't confer any special characteristics with regard to the bearer of said blood type.
Justin concurred. "God is DEFINITELY AB negative, Mom...and so is Jesus, even though Jesus was more famous than God."
(Sidebar: my boys frequently pull God into discussions as a measuring tool to talk about the "extreme" of something...ergo, I'm frequently flummoxed...).
In the end, we concluded our discussion of God's blood type with a vague, "I don't know, " and "Blood type doesn't determine the kind of person that you are."
To which they pulled the "God extreme card" saying, "Well God's must be the most rare, special blood..."
OK

Love Our Youth!

Our congregation continues to be blessed with our vibrant children and youth program. Natalie and Jennifer have led the children's choir again this year, and the children enrich our worship with their singing and their very presence. Kate and so many youth leaders like the ***, the *** and the *** keep our youth busy and growing in their faith.

Yesterday's Youth Sunday inspired me with the themes of Kids Under Construction and Shine for Christ. I was reminded of the song by Billy Joe Shaver (Texas outlaw country singer and songwriter) in which he sings: "I'm just an old chunk of coal, but I'll be a diamond someday." This is perhaps one of the best summaries of our doctrine of sanctification that I have ever heard. We are all under construction, adults and kids alike. And the Spirit of the Risen Lord works within us to strengthen us and guide us along the way.

There are many ways in which we as a congregation can be grateful for our youth program. One way is to express your apprecation to Kate and the other youth leaders who work behind the scenes in loving them and providing an anchor for them.

Another way is to support Camp Wyoming by donating to their annual fund--or to their 50th Anniversary Celebration fund. Make sure your children and grandchildren and their neighbors and school friends are signed up to particapate in this great camp.

Another way is to continue to express an interest in the youth, spend time with them, ask them questions and discover the many talents, gifts and ideas they have. Invite them to church on Sundays! Christianity is nothing if it is not a relationship!

Children and youth are a great gift to all of us. They remind us that we are all a work in progress, but God can use us, even in our incompleteness, to shine the light of Christ with love, compassion and grace each and every day.

Brightly, David

Click Here to Listen

listen to my sermon from Confirmation Sunday April 18, 2010; based on Luke 10, the story of the good samaritan. as I say in the sermon, the text and the title were picked by the confirmation students.

Moving to, and moved by the Music

Daily activity that's moderately vigorous.
Appropriate food portions.
These basic guidelines for optimal physical health are no secret. So why don't I get with the program?
I've been thinking more about this since reading health information related to body mass index (Ugh!), portion sizes, and daily activity guidelines for cardiac health.
When considering the triad of ingredients for successful skill performance-knowledge, skill and attitude-my behavior breaks down along skill lines. How do I incorporate an hour of physical activity into my life? What may have to change?
And what about my spiritual health? My daily behaviors that strengthen my faith? My prayer and service skills?
Nike's catch phrase, "Just do it" comes to mind, because getting bogged down with questions and details does me no good. Sometimes music helps where exercise is concerned. It's more motivating to complete an activity program with accompaniment. Music can also help me keep a thankful, service oriented attitude.
Here is one of my favorite tunes, "Edelweiss" with a new twist on the words. Whenever this tune runs through my mind, I hear these words instead of the original lyrics...and I think about how blessed I am.

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Every morning you greet me,
Soft and wise, clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.

Blessings they flow may they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever,
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Bless my homeland forever.

Amen and thank you Lord for all of your blessings!

Church as Aspen Grove

This past month the session (council) met on a Saturday morning at the Environmental Learning Center for a morning retreat. Part of our discussion centered around 4 different models for church (outlined by C. Kirk Hadaway in his book "Behold I Do a New Thing: Transforming Communities of Faith" 2001).

The 4 visual images for the different models are: Factory, Recliner, Guided Missile and Aspen Grove. According to Hadaway, the goal for every church is to be the Aspen Grove. The Aspen Grove is ideal because it has its purpose in place. It understands the church is here to change people. The Aspen Grove is also ideal because its goals are "diffuse and intangible," which means that the church culture is open-ended and permission-giving rather than goal-directed and outcome-oriented (people are not widgets). With both the right purpose and the right approach, the model church is a culture of transformation, where lives are changed and people are nurtured in their faith. While the Recliner defaults to satisfy its members, the Aspen Grove transforms one another, constantly evolving.

The Aspen Grove is a beautiful image for church, because it maintains a strong sense of community--that we are all connected. Also, the Aspen Grove is beautiful because it realizes that the church leaders provide direction without controlling the results. It is more fluid in character than a Factory. The true church realizes that we are not in control, but that Christ is the head and the Spirit is working among us.

These past few weeks, I have felt the inter-connectedness (roots of the trees) of our church at work. More than a handful of you have experienced losses of loved ones--mothers, aunts, grandmothers. More than a handful of you are experiencing major life transitions with job changes, moves, and illnesses. You have cared for one another. You have reminded yourselves and the world that God is working among us, doing a new thing, and that we help each other along the way. For that I am grateful.

The Fast I Choose

We often think of Lent as a time to give something up: meat, chocolate, Facebook, unkind words, you name it. The idea is that if we give up something, then it will help us to be more reflective about our spiritual journey. In that sense, giving up chocolate may not help. I want it, I can't have it: bummer. end of story.

Jesus makes it clear: "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). So Lent is a two step dance: turning away from the old (saying no) AND ALSO turning to the Lord (saying yes). Lent is about re-turning to right action. In that sense Lent helps us to do what Jesus said at the beginning of his ministry: "Repent and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15). So if giving up chocolate helps you to follow Jesus, so be it.

In Isaiah, God tells us about fasting: "Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?" (Isaiah 58:5-7).

Lent is call to liberation from whatever has you down. And it is also based in concrete action so that others may also be free. To follow Jesus is to be free. And none of us are free if one of us is bound. Following Jesus may be as easy as sharing bread with the hungry. (Hooray for Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday!) This is the fast that I choose.

Hungrily,
David

Our Ministry at Carrington Place

On Sunday, February 14th, I participated in the 2:00p.m. worship service at Carrington Place. The people who gather on the second Sunday of every month appear to enjoy worshipping together; it is a blessing to participate in this aspect of our church ministry.

On this particular day however, one participant was lost and calling. She was a thin elderly woman asking for her mother. I sat with her, held her hand, and was pleased to feel her relax and appear more at ease for the duration of the service.

She sang along to some hymns that were familiar to her, occasionally humming through the spots where words once were.

I haven't experienced the loss of my mother yet, so I can't imagine what that loss feels like. How can words possibly express such an event?

The poet W. H. Auden wrote the following, certainly one of the best attempts in words to convey the loss of a loved one:

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let airplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song:
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can every come to any good.

But we remember that Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Our ministry matters, especially for the weary and grieving who are lost and searching for peace and rest.

A Powerful Missionary Statement

After serving two terms in the Georgia state legislature, Jimmy Carter ran for governor and was defeated in 1966 by Lester Maddox, whom he described as a "notorious segregationist who threatened with a pickax handle any potential black customers who approached his restaurant in Atlanta for service."

In his 2005 book, Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis, Carter goes on to say that his faith was shaken by the victory of such a person. What did it all mean?

His sister told him that this tragedy should be the impetus for increased devotion to Christian living. Shortly afterwards, he began missionary work with another volunteer in the Springfield, Massachusetts area witnessing to many families from Puerto Rico. His volunteer partner was Rev. Eloy Cruz.

Carter reports that he was deeply moved by the way that Rev. Cruz connected with people and talked about his faith. When it came time for Carter and Cruz to go their separate ways, Carter asked him how he was able to be such an effective teacher.

Cruz replied, "You only need two loves in your life: for God, and for the person in front of you at any particular time."

This is one of the most powerful things that I have every read. From time to time, I think about this story and pull Rev. Cruz's mission phrase to the forefront as a reminder of how to be a better witness in everyday life.

With regard to Jimmy Carter, we know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say. Carter has achieved many things in his life, including the Nobel Peace Prize. And yet, after all of the time that has passed and all that he has done since 1966, he still recalls and holds up Rev. Cruz's simple and powerful words as a profound example of Christian living that has made a lasting impression upon his life.

I don't think that I'll forget them either.